College of Charleston junior Leigh Whittaker (Baden-Baden, Germany) earned one of six individual berths into the 2011 NCAA Division I Women’s Golf East Regional Championship to be held on May 5-7 at the LPGA International Legends Course in Daytona Beach, Fla.
The Cougars, who finished the season ranked No. 81 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Women’s Collegiate Rankings and as the Southern Conference runner-up, have now been represented in the NCAA East Regional the last six consecutive years. CofC competed as a team in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010, and individually with former SoCon Player of the Year Stephanie Kirchmayr in 2008 and Whittaker in 2011.
“Leigh’s had one of the best individual years in the history of the CofC’s women’s golf program,” Head Coach Jamie Futrell said. “She is excited to compete after final exams next week and her selection validates her as one of the best collegiate players in the country.”
A two-time All-SoCon Team selection, Whittaker is making her third all-time NCAA appearance and recorded the fourth-best single-season stroke average (74.93) in CofC history this past season. She finished in the top 10 five times in 10 starts with two individual medalist wins at the Palmetto Intercollegiate on Oct. 26 on Kiawah Island, S.C., and at the Pinehurst Challenge on April 5 in Pinehurst, N.C. Whittaker recorded the lowest 54-hole total in program history at the Palmetto Intercollegiate (205) and tied the school record for lowest round twice with a five-under par 67.
